334 Not out: Greatness requires humility
For many years I carried a key chain with the number 99.94 embossed on it. Cricket fans will know that this was Donald Bradman’s test batting average. Bradman is hailed as the greatest cricketer of all time and his test average remains unsurpassed. There is a whole MCG field between Bradman and the next highest average, at 61.87. However, many of The Don’s individual records have since been broken.
One of the stories that lives long in cricket folklore is not where one of Bradman’s records was broken, but where it was equalled. On 16th October 1998, playing against Pakistan, Mark Taylor became only the fourth Australian to score a triple Test century. At the end of two days of batting in sweltering heat, he was on 334 - equalling Don Bradman's record set in 1930, almost seven decades earlier.
As the Captain it was Taylor’s call to decide if the team would declare. Had they played on, Australia would have had insufficient time to win the game. Taylor agonised over the decision, reportedly staying awake until beyond 2:00 am. The following morning he declared before play commenced, his own score locked at 334 not out. His decision to put the team before his own glory was an act of humility that sealed Taylor’s greatness, as a cricketer and as a captain.
Taylor was praised by Bradman for leaving his record intact, but more importantly for focussing on the Captain's first priority, winning the game for the team. There’s something special about remaining forever on the same score as your idol and while Taylor is undoubtedly a great of the game, the record books show that Bradman amassed the same score in under half the time.
Every time I glanced at my keychain calling to mind Bradman’s 99.94 average, it reminded me of two things. Firstly, to always strive to be the best I can be and secondly, that even Don Bradman wasn’t perfect.
Greatness requires humility. Know the end game and remember what your most important priorities are.
Learn more about the smarts you need to succeed in your asset management career with my free video series.
